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EPILEPSY FOUNDATION AND EPILEPSY
THERAPY PROJECT FINALIZE MERGER TO CREATE STRONG, UNIFIED ORGANIZATION TO
SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY

New foundation will drive
awareness, supportive care and accelerate new therapies for millions of people
living with seizures

Washington, DC, December 26, 2012 – The Epilepsy Foundation (EF) and the Epilepsy
Therapy Project (ETP) announced today that their Boards of Directors have unanimously
approved the merger of the two organizations.
The new organization, known as the Epilepsy Foundation, will fight for
more than two million Americans and their families living with epilepsy today
and the one in 26 Americans who will develop epilepsy at some point in their
lives. The new mission of the Foundation
is to stop seizures and SUDEP, find a cure and overcome the challenges created
by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy and research to
accelerate ideas into therapies. This
strategic merger of the EF and ETP has garnered tremendous support from leaders
in the healthcare advocacy and research communities.

“The Epilepsy Community has an
obligation and now an opportunity to step forward with a strong unified voice
to bring greater resources to bear at the national and at the local level to
improve the lives of people with epilepsy” said Warren Lammert, Chairman and
co-founder of the Epilepsy Therapy Project. “The merger of the EF and ETP creates an
opportunity, working together with the 47 local affiliates of the Epilepsy
Foundation, to be make a real difference through a comprehensive agenda that
includes education, advocacy, awareness, local services and supporting research
and the development of new therapies in a time frame that matters to people
living with epilepsy today.

“Across
all diseases and life-threatening conditions, patient-focused organizations –
and patients themselves – are leading the way toward better treatments,” said
Michael Milken, chairman of FasterCures.
“The merged resources of the Epilepsy Therapy Project and the Epilepsy Foundation
will give individuals living with the condition – and their families – an even
stronger advocate and partner working to accelerate research and
discovery.” Since 1998, the Milken
Family Foundation has worked alongside the Epilepsy Therapy Project and the
Epilepsy Foundation, providing funding to young investigators focused on
developing more effective treatments for the condition.

Under the agreement, the Epilepsy
Therapy Project will continue supporting scientific and clinical research with
an emphasis on translational medicine and new product development under the
Epilepsy Foundation umbrella. Phil
Gattone, EF President and CEO, will continue to lead the Epilepsy Foundation. Warren Lammert, ETP Chairman and Co-founder,
will serve on the board of directors of the new organization and play a crucial
role during the merger transition period.
Members of both boards, representing some of the most renowned
researchers and practitioners in epilepsy, will hold seats on a newly formed
board of directors. The award-winning
patient care website www.epilepsy.com will serve as the premier source of accurate information
regarding epilepsy and seizures. The new
organization will be headquartered in Landover, MD with 48 regional affiliate
offices located throughout the United States.

“Epilepsy is more prevalent than autism,
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease combined – and takes
thousands of lives each year. This is
why we need to advance the cause of epilepsy together and forcefully,” said
Gattone, also the father of a child with epilepsy. “This Foundation and our affiliates are at the
forefront of transforming how we comprehend, treat and support people with epilepsy
– from government lobbying at the national level to supporting the child and
family in your community. Our affiliated
chapters around the country provide free services to all. We are dedicated to helping address the public
health dimensions associated with seizure disorders, including access to care, challenges
in school, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) and other devastating consequences
of uncontrolled seizures, furthering opportunities for gainful employment and independent
living.”

The new Epilepsy Foundation brings
together the mission and assets of both organizations:

epilepsy.com,
the leading portal for people, caregivers and professionals dealing with
epilepsy;

48
affiliated Epilepsy Foundations around the country dedicated to providing
free programs and services to people living with epilepsy and their loved
ones;

Scientific,
Professional and Business Advisory Boards comprised of leading epilepsy
physicians, health care professionals and researchers, industry
professionals and investors with experience in clinical care, as well as
in the evaluation and commercialization of new therapies;

A
track record of identifying and supporting important new science,
translational research programs, and the most promising new therapies;

The
Epilepsy Pipeline Conference, a leading global forum organized in
partnership with the Epilepsy Study Consortium that showcases the most
exciting new drugs, devices and therapies, and includes the Epilepsy Shark
Tank; and

A
professional advocacy network focused on increasing epilepsy government
and military funding and initiatives at the federal, state and local
levels.

About Epilepsy
When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they have epilepsy, which
affects nearly three million people in the United States and 65 million people
worldwide. This year, another 200,000
people in our country will be diagnosed with epilepsy. Despite all available
treatments, 30 to 40 percent of people with epilepsy continue to experience uncontrolled
seizures while many more experience less than optimal seizure control.

About the New
Epilepsy FoundationThe
Epilepsy Foundation, a national nonprofit with affiliated organizations
throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968. The Foundation’s mission is to stop seizures,
find cures and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy.

The
Epilepsy Therapy Project was founded in 2002 by a group of parents,
distinguished physicians, and researchers to support the commercialization of
new therapies through direct grants and investments in promising academic and
commercial projects.

The
new organization, known as the Epilepsy Foundation, will have unparalleled
reach and leadership through a nationwide supportive care network, broad-based
public awareness, education and focus on accelerating the clinical development
of innovative therapies for people with epilepsy.